Established 2004

Ruddlesden geotechnical

Ruddlesden geotechnical provides ground investigation, geotechnical consultancy and contamination assessment services.

Based in Exeter, but covering the whole of the UK, albeit primarily concentrated in the South West, Ruddlesden geotechnical was formed in 2004.

Ruddlesden geotechnical works on behalf of a wide client base, including local, regional and national housing developers, housing associations, commercial developers, building contractors, structural and civil engineers, architects, building consultants, quantity surveyors, local authorities and private individuals.

Development projects range from single dwellings and extensions to large housing estates, multi-storey flats, offices, industrial units, roads, slopes, schools, hospitals and basements.

The services and projects listed on this web-site provide an indication of those undertaken by Ruddlesden geotechnical, but others are carried out. If your requirement is not readily identifiable on this web-site, please contact us as we may still be able to help you.

  • AGS
  • Constructionline
  • CSCS
  • SMAS
  • ECFC trust
  • Latest news

    05 Oct 2026

    Everything you always wanted to know about soakaway testing and groundwater monitoring*

    Everything you always wanted to know about soakaway testing and groundwater monitoring* (*but were afraid to ask).This was the title of a recent lunchtime CPD presentation that Simon and Callum recently gave to a company of drainage and civil engineers. Whilst the pun in the title, taken from a Woody Allen film, might have been lost on many of the audience, its content certainly wasn’t. I am all for sharing what we know, particularly if it takes less than an hour, over lunch, and especially if it helps make all of our lives easier and to the benefit of others. Whilst standing up in front of a room and talking for around 40 minutes isn’t my idea of fun, the benefits are great and many, so we are happy to provide a similar talk to others, if anyone fancies it.    Providing a pizza lunch is optional, but always helps with our availability!

    Everything you always wanted to know about soakaway testing and groundwater monitoring*
    Everything you always wanted to know about soakaway testing and groundwater monitoring*
  • Recent projects

    Highway Investigation Works Adjacent to Live Highway, Cornwall

    In-situ California Bearing Ratio (CBR) testing was undertaken to provide a design CBR value for road pavement design. The testing was to be undertaken within a highway verge of an existing A-road. Ruddlesden geotechnical obtained the necessary street works licence and organised the appropriate level of traffic management to protect site operatives. Trial pits were excavated within the verge to reveal the underlying subgrade. A number of Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) tests were undertaken to ascertain the strength of the subgrade and, combined with UKAS accredited laboratory testing, calculate a representative CBR value for design.

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  • Recent projects

    Groundwater Monitoring for Retaining Wall Design, Devon

    Following a geotechnical investigation, groundwater monitoring was undertaken to provide data for the design of a proposed retaining wall. Due to the site’s locality, near to a tidal estuary, monitoring visits were carefully considered, to ensure that the high tidal range, and the groundwater table’s response, was reflected in the data. The level of the groundwater table and groundwater pressures were critical to the retaining wall design. Limited data and/ or conservative assumptions could have resulted in the overdesign of the structure, with construction costs significantly more than they should have been.

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